Review by Booklist Review
From an overhead view of boaters floating in a kayak, Pendreigh marvels at the calm, asking on the next spread, "Is under water peaceful too?" The answer, imparted in (sometimes awkward) rhymes, is a definite no: underwater microphones have picked up noises huge and tiny from water dwellers. Kids will delight in learning that, "while some fish CHIRP / and others BARK / salmon BURP . . . / and herring FART!" (Adults likely will have to explain how one statement--that loud bubbles shot out by shrimp are "hot as the sun"--is for fun.) Some of the physics of underwater sound is helpfully explained, with Pendreigh noting that sound travels farther than light or smell in water. Environmental lessons can spring from the fascinating fact that when fish are played sounds from healthy reefs, they swim to damaged areas and help them recover--information offered in a nonrhyming closing section (though no source notes are listed). This is jaunty coverage of a less-discussed topic, accompanied by realistic, bright, digitally rendered images of fish and their habitat. The unusual sounds chronicled will make it a hit read-aloud.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--This book has it all: captivating illustrations that bring the underwater world to life without being cartoonish; fantastic rhyming verses that make science facts easily understood and memorable; loads of information about how fish communicate. It's an obvious choice for nature lovers and science teachers, but it also provides a wealth of new vocabulary and plenty of opportunities for lessons about rhyming words, onomatopoeia, perspective, and point of view. With all the sound effects, this will be a popular read-aloud for story hours; there's so much to learn about underwater sounds, and readers will appreciate such a terrific introduction to the topic. Those students who may not ordinarily be drawn to science themes not only will learn new concepts but will likely start asking more questions about this noisy underwater realm. VERDICT Educators, parents, and students will absolutely love this book. It's beautifully illustrated, funny, and educational; start recommending it ASAP.--Darby Wallace
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Using underwater microphones, we now know that "it's NOISY down below!... / Fish GRUNT and GROAN, / fish SQUEAK and MOAN." The text goes on to explain why and how sea animals use sound, from chirping angelfish to snapping shrimp. The rhyming and entertaining onomatopoeia-filled couplets impart an impressive amount of information; detailed and colorful spreads highlight the variety of underwater life. Back matter includes additional "Noisemaker Facts." (c) Copyright 2025. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Listen to an underwater cacophony. With this playful account of the sounds revealed by recent hydrophone research, the author ofWhen a Tree Falls (2025) leaves the forest to visit the ocean, inviting younger audiences to eavesdrop on fish. Pendreigh's rhyming couplets never falter; from time to time, she repeats the refrain "It's NOISY down below." Starting with whale and dolphin sounds, she quickly dives into less familiar territory, describing the noises made by a remarkable variety of marine life, including shellfish. She speculates on what they might be saying ("MY LUNCH!" "SHARK?") and explains that underwater, "sound travels faster, and farther…, / quicker than smell and deeper than light." She reveals how these creatures create sound and uses frequent onomatopoeia ("Pearlfish THRUM. / Angelfish CHIRP"). Melrose's digital illustrations include recognizable depictions of the fish, from clownfish to herring, as well as their sounds, lettered neatly nearby. Careful observers will notice a snapping shrimp crackling and popping on nearly every spread. This creature provides the climax; its astonishingly loud sound is accompanied by "blast balls that STUN / ZAP-FLASH-BUBBLES. Hot as the SUN!" The repetition of sound words makes this a pleasure to use with fledgling readers. The spreads will show well to a small group, and the backmatter adds useful information on hydrophone research, how fish hear, and snapping shrimp and the other animals mentioned. A sound examination of a surprisingly loud undersea world.(Informational picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
